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LSC-30078 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 05 December 2025

LSC-30078 - Case Studies in Microbiology and Immunology
Coordinator: Emily Stevens Belcher
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 734414

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

In this module, you will study current trends in disease themes in the field of microbiology and immunology. For each theme, there will be a case study and guided reading relating to current clinical interventions and how current experimental approaches are informing improvements to medical interventions in the future. You will have the opportunity to develop your communication skills by curating a themed edition of a journal by selecting the latest advances in your chosen field.
You will also study how microorganisms can be used as an alternative tool in multiple fields e.g. bioremediation and manipulation of the microbiome. You will also host a seminar, presenting a case study on advances in an area of research. You will identify the learning outcomes of the seminar in order to guide your peers in their learning.

Aims
1. To use knowledge of normal protective immune function to explain processes of disease in named situations involving inappropriate or dysfunctional immunity.
2. To apply knowledge of the process of disease to explain current approaches to clinical intervention in the examples of infectious and immune-related diseases.
3. To consider examples of current/ongoing research aiming to manipulate the immune system in the context of infectious and immune-related diseases for improved medical intervention in the future.
4. To apply knowledge of how microorganisms can be used as tools in medicine and other industries.
5. To further develop students' ability to independently research, critically evaluate, curate and communicate scientific findings.

Intended Learning Outcomes

discuss, using examples, how knowledge of disease mechanisms is informing experimental approaches to improved and alternative conventional medicines in the future: 1,2
apply their understanding of normal immune function to evaluate mechanisms of disease in infectious diseases, inappropriate immunity and immune dysfunction: 1,2
evaluate the rationale for current and proposed medical interventions in relation to microbiology and immunology: 1,2
compare and contrast the use of microorganisms and alternative agents with traditional methodologies in medicine and other industries: 1,2
prepare a scientific seminar, appropriate for a scientific audience: 2

Study hours

4 x 1 hour student-led seminars
8 x 2 hour case-based learning
1 x 1 hour introduction to the module tutorial
2 x 1 hour assessment workshops
8 x 3 hours independent study; guided reading and research preparation for case-based learning tutorial
50 hours of independent study; reading and research for the themed edition of a journal paper
53 hours of independent work; preparing for the assessed seminar, identifying a suitable case study, determining the ILOs for their peers

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Publication Based Paper weighted 70%
Editorial
Students will write up to 1500 words on a topic of their choice. Editorials are short, opinionated pieces that offer a unique insight into an active area of research which should be relevant to a current clinical, theoretical or policy-related problem within the fields of microbiology and/or immunology. In addition, students will be asked to write a 500-word ‘integrity reflection’ at the end of their editorial (total word count for assessment = 2000). This should detail why they chose their topic, how they approached writing their editorial and what they have learned from the process. Students can include detail here of if/how they have used AI.

2: Seminar weighted 30%
Student-led seminar
Students will identify their own case study for a 10 minute oral presentation. This can be on any topic within the fields of microbiology or immunology, including a historical case study or recent piece of research. The topic chosen should be different from the topic covered in their editorial. Students can choose to present in any format, eg. powerpoint slides, oral delivery only, using a whiteboard.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 05 December 2025